The Natural History of Selborne

Began to turn the horses into the great meadow: there is a fine head of grass. In the month of Aug. there fell 8 inch, 28h. of rain!

The air is chilly, & has an October-feel.

The store-sheep on the down are in good case.  Some men began to house wheat before the shower.  Were forced to light a fire in the parlor.  On this day the Royal George, a 100 gun ship, was unfortunately over-set at Spithead, as she was heaving down.  Admiral Kempenfelt, & about 900 people, men, women, & children, were lost.  The lower port-holes being open the ship filled, & sunk in about 5 minutes.

Wheat grows as it lies: & the lodged wheat uncut is in a bad state.

Clays pond runs over.  Not one wasp or hornet to be seen: nor if there were, is there any fruit to support them.  On such a summer, it seems quite a wonder that the whole race is not extinct.

Newton great pond runs over.

The pond on Selborne-down is brimfull, & has run over.

Goody Hammond goes off from the garden to glean wheat.  The quantity of rain from Jan. 1st 1782 to Aug 23rd is 40 inc. 52 h.

Hay, of cow-grass, is housing.  Wheat-sheaves are bound in single bands.

Linnets congregate & therefore have probably done breeding.  Saw a Papilio Machaon in my garden: this is only the third of this species that ever I have seen in this district.  It was alert, & wild.  It is the only swallow-tailed fly in this island.